Epiphloeus prolixicornus, Opitz, Weston, 2019

Opitz, Weston, 2019, Descriptions of new genera and new species of Western Hemisphere checkered beetles (Coleoptera, Cleroidea, Cleridae), Linzer biol. Beitr. 51 (2), pp. 959-1076 : 979

Epiphloeus prolixicornus OPITZ nov.sp. ( Figs 86, 156, 221, 290)

Holotype: ♂. Type locality: GUYANE FRANÇAISE, Massif du Mitaraka ca. 2°14'N- 54°27'O, 25.II-26.III.2015. A second label reads: La Planète Revisitée- MNHN.PNI Guyane, 2015 (APA- 973-1) ( MNHN) . Paratypes: 7 specimens. French Guiana: Subdivision Maripasoula, Massif du Mitaraka, 2°4'N- 54°27'W, 25-II-26-III-2015, La Planète Revisitée- MNHN.PNI Guyane, 2015 (APA-973-1) ( MNHN, 5; WOPC, 2) .

D i a g n o s i s: The genus Epiphloeus SPINOLA was revised in 2008 ( OPITZ, 2008). That work included a key to Epiphloeus species. Epiphloeus prolixicornus specimens key out to E. princeps GORHAM, from which E. prolixicornus specimens differ by showing a last antennomere that is longer than the combined length of antennomeres 9 and 10. Also, E. prolixicornus specimens differ by showing an aedeagus that has a much more lengthened phallobasic rod.

D e s c r i p t i o n: Size: Length 7.0 mm; width 2.0 mm. Form: As in Fig. 290. Color: Cranium light castaneous, frontal margin, below ocular notch, with slender patch of white setae; antenna bicolorous, scape and pedicel yellow, rest of antenna brown; prothorax black, except arch red; pterothorax testaceous; elytra bicolorous, mostly dark brown, each disc with slightly testaceous region near humerus and large angular testaceous maculae behind middle; abdomen bicolorous, visible sternites I to IV yellow, sternite V mostly yellow, black along distal margin, visible sternite VI black; pronotal and elytral discs densely vested with recumbent white setae. Head: Antenna ( Fig. 86) capitate, scape particularly elongate, funicular antennomeres tightly packed, capitular antennomeres 9 and 10 crescentic, with extended angular anterodistal margin, antennomere 11 longer than combined length of antennomeres 9 and 10; eyes large, finely facetted, ocular notch large, eye wider than frons (EW/FW 55/45). Thorax: Pronotum ( Fig. 156) transverse (PW/PL 105/85), anterior transverse depression deeply impressed; arch finely transversely wrinkled, disc coarsely punctate, lateral tubercle well developed, disc concave paralaterally near pronotal collar; discal and lateral trichobothria prominent; elytral asetiferous punctures large, concentrated on elytral basal 1/4 (EL/EW 120/65); anterior margin of protibia with 7 spines. Abdomen: Pygidium transverse / scutiform; aedeagus as in Fig. 221.

Variation: Length 7.0- 9.5 mm; width 1.9-2.8 mm. Except for body size, the available specimens are quite homogeneous.

N a t u r a l H i s t o r y: The available specimens weere collected during a period from 25 February to 26 March 2015.

D i s t r i b u t i o n: This species is known from French Guiana.

E t y m o l o g y: The trivial name, prolixicornus, is a Latin compound name that stems from prolixus (= stretched out long) and cornu (= horn); with reference to the expanded length of the last antennomere.